Combined rail-brace and tie-plate.



No. 723,214. PATENTED MAR, 17, 1903.

'D. RYAN.

UOMB INED'RAIL BRAGE AND TIE PLATE.

APPLIUATION FILED NOV. 3, 1902.

'Y'H: NORRIS PETERS ooqwmo-uma, WASNINGTON n. c.

UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE.

THOMAS QDONNELL, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

COMBINED, RAlL-BRACE AND TIE-PLATE SFEGIFIGATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 723,214 dated March. 17, 1903.

Application filed November 3, 1902- Serial No. 129,978. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, DENNIS RYAN, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Denver, inthe county of Arapahoe and State of Colorado, have in vented certain new and useful Improvements in a Combined Rail- Brace and Tie-Plate; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, snch as will enable others'skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had -to the accompanying drawings, and to the figuresof reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

My invention relates to improvements in means for connecting the ends of railroadrails and preventing the rails from spreading. This device I term a combined rail-brace and tie-plate. It consists of a bar provided with lateral projections extending therefrom in both directions. These projections pass beneath the rail and are made fast to the ties,

the spaces, between the projections 'being equal to the distance between the ties. The bar is undercut to receive the outer flange of the rail. A plate or bar connecting the two devices of the opposite rails prevents the latter from spreading. As many of tliese devices may be used intermediate the joints as desired. At the joints each device is provided with an upwardly projecting plate, flange, or brace engaging the web of the rails and extending on opposite sides of their meeting ends; These braces engage the rails on the outside and are securely bolted thereto. Having briefly outlined my improved construction, I will proceed to describe the same in detail, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof;

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top or plan view of a section of railroad-trackequipped with myimprovements. Fig. 2 is a top View of t the device in detail, the transverse connecting-bar being partlybroken away. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig. 4 is a section taken on the line 4 4, Fig. 1.

The same reference characters indicate th same parts in all the views.

Let the numeral 5 designate the central longitudinal part of my improved device, consistin g of a bar which overlaps the outer flange of the rail and forms a rib which is continuous between the ties. As shown in the drawings, this bar 5 is of sufficient length to rest upon three ties. The parts of the bar which engage the ties are provided with inwardlyprojecting plates 5 and outwardly-projecting plates 5. At each tie the bar 5 overlaps the plate part 5 and forms a recess 5 which the outer flange of the rail 6 enters. The projections 5 are reinforced or made thicker than the parts 5*, as best shown in Figs. 3 and 4., and are provided with openings 5 to receive spikes 10, which are driven therethrough into the ties. The inwardly-projecting plates 5 are also provided with spike-openingsti The central plate 5 is provided with two of these openings arranged to register with openings 7*, formed in the bar 7, which extendstransversely betwecnthe rails and connects the two devices of the opposite rails. The lower part of this connecting-bar is reinforced, as shown at 7, between the plates 5 of the two devices in order that it may rest upon the tie between said plates. This reinforced part is provided with a central opening, through which the spike 10 may be passed into the tie.

At curves, where the rails are laid farther.

apart, the connecting-bar is adjusted to harmonize with this arrangement, and only one of its openings and one of the openings in the central plate 5 are utilized, since the end of the bar only overlaps the plate part 5' sufflcientlytopermit this.

The devices to be used at the rail-joints are provided with an'upwardly-projecting flange or brace part 5 which engages the web of the rails on the outside. This brace part is socured to the web of the rails by bolts 8, which pass through registering openings formed in the connected parts. The length of the part 5 is such as to engage the rails at a suitable distance on opposite sides of their meeting ends.

Fromthe foregoing description it will be understood that one of these devices having the part 5 is placed at each joint, and several of the devices without the part 5 are placed intermediate each rail extremity.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is- 1., As an improved article of manufacture, a device of the class described comprising a central longitudinal bar having lateral projections in both directions, the outer part of the bar being reinforced and undercut to overlap the outer flange of the rail, the projections being arranged to engage the ties of the track and perforated to receive fastening devices.

2. As an improved article of manufacture,

a device of the class described comprising a central longitudinal bar undercut to receive one flange of the rail, and provided with lateral projections at suitable intervals, spaced to engage the ties of the track and perforated to receive fastening devices, the bar having an upwardly-projecting, vertical flange or brace adapted to engage the web of the rail and perforated to receive fastening devices.

3. The combination of a pair of devices each consisting of a central longitudinal bar whose outer portion is reinforced and undercut to receive the-outer flange of the rail, the said bar being provided with lateral projections in both directions, spaced to engage the ties of the track and perforated to receive fastening devices, and a transverse bar connecting lateral projections in both directions spaced to engage a number of ties of the track, the outer portion of each bar being reinforced and undercut to receive the outer flange of the rail, and suitable means for connecting the two devices intermediate their extremities to prevent the rails from spreadin In testimony whereof I afix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DENNIS RYAN.

Witnesses:

THOMAS O. DONNELL, DENA NELSON. 

